Leadership & Governance
Overview of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is the state economic development authority for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Created in 1995, VEDP collaborates with local, regional, and state partners to encourage the expansion and diversification of Virginia’s economy. VEDP works to accomplish these objectives through a variety of activities, including marketing and lead generation; business retention, expansion, and attraction; trade development; business intelligence; competitive benchmarking; site development; performance-based incentives; and talent solutions. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
VEDP
By statute, VEDP creates economic opportunity for the Commonwealth through eight core categories of responsibility:
- Ensure that effective marketing programs are delivered
- Engage in business development activities
- Engage in product development activities
- Encourage coordination of economic development organizations
- Encourage exports of Virginia’s products and services
- Assist in formulating Virginia’s economic development strategies
- Administer economic development incentive programs
- Fulfill administrative and reporting responsibilities
With dedicated and knowledgeable professionals committed to Virginia’s economic success, VEDP helps businesses find the resources they need to make relocation and expansion successful endeavors.
Board of Directors
John Hewa - Chair
The Honorable Carrie H. Chenery
The Honorable Mark D. Sickles
Richard “Rick” O. Harrell, III
Kenneth Johnson
April Kees
Connie Loughhead
Christopher P. Lu
Bo Machayo
Sarah McCoy
Emily O'Quinn
Anne Oman
Dr. David I. Ramadan
Steven David Stone
William Sudow
Advisory Committee on International Trade
The primary purposes of the International Trade Committee are to advise the Board on all matters relating to international trade and trade promotion; and, make such recommendations to the Board as the Committee may deem desirable.
Retired Vice President of Corporate Affairs
Universal Corporation
President
Virginia Poultry Federation
President and CEO
CV International, Inc.
President
Riverwind Advisors, LLC
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Commonwealth of Virginia
Executive Vice President
Virginia Maritime Association
CEO and Attorney at Law
The Global Law Group, PLC
Global Trade Industry Adviser
Dow Jones & Company and Sayari Analytics
President
Des Champs Technologies
Advisory Committee on Business Development and Marketing
The primary purpose of the Advisory Committee on Business Development and Marketing Committee is to advise the Board on all matters relating to business development and marketing and make recommendations upon request of the Board.
Director, Economic Development and Tourism
City of Waynesboro
Executive Director
Scott County Economic Development
President
The Lampkin Group
President
EWR Management Group
Director of Tourism and Economic Development
Town of Culpeper
Director of Economic Development
Pittsylvania County
Attorney
Winslow, McCurry & MacCormac, PLLC
Chief Business Development Officer
Hampton Roads Alliance
President
Des Champs Technologies
Senior Vice President
Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
Management
Jason El Koubi
Jason El Koubi oversees Virginia’s strategic vision for economic development across the Commonwealth: creating opportunities for communities and companies alike to achieve long-term growth.
Ted Sniffin
As Executive Vice President of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), Ted Sniffin helps shape and execute Virginia's business development strategy, supporting efforts to attract new investment, expand existing businesses, and strengthen the Commonwealth's economic competitiveness.
Stephen Hartka
Stephen Hartka helps shape how companies understand and evaluate Virginia as a place to invest and grow. In his role at VEDP, he oversees research, marketing, and communications while supporting executive leadership on strategic priorities and organizational alignment
Antje Abshoff
Antje advises international companies on how best to expand operations into the U.S. in general and Virginia in particular, providing expert guidance on key topics, from site selection to tax incentives. She oversees VEDP’s offices in Europe, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Stephanie Agee
Stephanie Agee designs and executes international business development programs targeted to companies looking to grow beyond the U.S., helping them identify opportunities, enter new markets, and expand international sales.
Lindsay Akers
Lindsay Akers leads External Affairs for VEDP, overseeing government relations, policy coordination, and partner engagement across the Commonwealth. She works closely with state leadership, legislators, and internal teams to align policy, budget priorities, and economic development initiatives that support business growth and long-term competitiveness.
Sneha Atwal
Sneha’s extensive experience in regulatory and compliance roles, as well as eight valuable years in the public sector, give her an insightful edge when developing strategies to grow employment across Virginia in manufacturing industries, including advanced materials, food & beverage manufacturing, and biopharmaceuticals.
Vince Barnett
Vince leads VEDP’s data center strategy, helping companies evaluate opportunities across Virginia and connecting complex infrastructure projects to the right sites and partners.
Melissa Cox
Melissa Cox brings extensive experience in human resources, with a focus on talent acquisition, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
David Devan
David draws on a background in investment banking and economic analysis to shape the policies and site investments that make Virginia competitive. His years advising corporations and working on mergers & acquisitions help him see what companies need before they even ask.
Michael Dreiling
Michael helps companies navigate complex site and development decisions with greater speed and certainty. He works with corporate leaders, consultants, and partners to develop real estate strategies that reduce risk, align stakeholders, and support successful project delivery.
Katherine Goodwin
Katherine Goodwin plays a central role in guiding high-value business opportunities from initial inquiry through final negotiation, ensuring each project is executed with precision, accountability, and alignment with the Commonwealth’s strategic priorities.
Bob Grenell
Bob Grenell leads accounting operations and financial reporting, supporting accurate and transparent financial management across the organization. His work includes coordinating the annual audit and maintaining strong internal controls to ensure effective financial processes.
Megan Healy
Megan Healy leads Virginia’s workforce strategy efforts, helping businesses access and build the skilled talent needed for growth and expansion. Her role includes overseeing major statewide initiatives such as the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, Virginia Office of Education Economics, RTSBO, and InternshipsVA, all focused on aligning workforce development with economic growth.
Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes leads information technology strategy and operations, overseeing the systems and infrastructure that support VEDP’s day-to-day functions and long-term goals. His work focuses on advancing technology capabilities while ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards and policies.
Eric Jehu
Eric helps companies make smarter supply chain decisions by aligning location strategy, infrastructure, and operations expertise to support growth, resilience, and long-term success in Virginia.
Wendy Kang
Wendy Kang leads the Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE), which provides the data and analysis critical to informing workforce and education initiatives that build a reliable, skilled and ready-to-work talent pipeline.
Debbie Melvin
Debbie advances Virginia’s talent strategy by connecting employers, educators, and workforce partners to attract and develop talent. She leads initiatives, like InternshipsVA, that support recruitment, training, and workforce alignment, helping businesses build strong talent pipelines across the Commonwealth.
Kristine O'Dette
Kristine O’Dette leads Virginia’s economic development marketing and communications strategy, positioning the Commonwealth as a premier destination for business, innovation, and investment.
Lisa Wallmeyer
Lisa Wallmeyer provides legal and policy guidance that supports economic development efforts across Virginia. Her work ensures that agreements, programs, and initiatives are structured effectively and aligned with the Commonwealth’s legal framework.
Adam Watkins
Adam Watkins leads the development of forward-looking strategies and initiatives that enhance Virginia’s business climate and support long-term growth, working across state, regional, and local partners to shape policies and programs that sharpen the Commonwealth’s competitive edge in attracting and growing businesses and talent statewide.
Meghan Welch
Meghan Welch leads strategy development and execution to advance Virginia’s Knowledge Work sectors, including business and financial services, tech and cyber, and aerospace and defense innovation.
Steve Youll
Steve leads the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, delivering customized recruitment and training solutions that help companies quickly build job-ready workforces. He works closely with business and education partners to align talent strategies with operational needs and support long-term growth.